The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-15
HOW IT FEELS TO BE HANGED.
A Man Who Escaped Lynchers Tells a
"World"& Correspondent.
From the NeD York World.

" - -
A Man Who Escaped Lynchers Tells c
"World"a Correspondent.
From the Neao York World
WACO, Tex, Nov 9--On Saturday. Nov
20, Justice w. G. Boyd, of Precinct No. 4
McLennan County, issued a warrant for tn
arrest of one Daniel Wells, who was charged
by Stephen Harvey with stealing two horse
belonging to him. The warrant was place.
in the hands of Constable Sparks for ser
vice. and that officer kept his man under
surveillance, but did not arrest him AT once
owing to the fact that Mrs. Wells, wife ol
the accused was ILL., and also i'll considers
ton of a knowledge of Wells disposition
and confidence that he would not attempt
to run off.
Last Sunday night Constable Sparks, his
brother and Stephen Harvey, the prose
cutting witness, were riding together along
the road in the valley Of Childers creek,
when they met Wells The constable halted
him, read the warrant by the light OF the
match and placed him under arrest Wells
expressed Indignation that his accuser,
Harvey was one of what he presumed 10 he
a posse comitatus, and Constable Sparks,
humoring the within, directed Harvey 10
leave. which order the latter obeyed
The constable and his brother with the
prisoner, took the road toward China
Springs, about five miles distant, and were
chatting as they rode. The Childer's Creek
prairie lust along there is notified with live
oak groves and the road, winding with the
bends of the creek, turns frequently. 1t
was a starlight night but the moon had not
rsen Suddenly III the roadside band of
masked men appeared and, with loaded
guns, commanded a halt. The constable
and his brother drew their revolvers, but
the maskers arose from every bush, until
it appeared to the officers and their prisoner
as If fifty men, mounted and on
foot. all disguised with handkerchiefs
crossing at their noses and tied beulnd their
ears were upon them. The maskers
soon explained their business. With Win
chester carbines, double barreled shotguns
and 45-calibre six-shooters leveled upon the
constable, his brother and Wells, they com
peled all three to dismount and in trlce
the Sparks brothers were relieved of their
weapons and marched away into thicket
of Young live oaks There they were seated
upon the ground and six men mounted
guard around them and commanded silence.
The others took Wells off TO a space where
another band was grouped When the two
bands were united at least 100 masked men
were assembled and quickly drumhead
couCt-martial was organized.
One of the first questions addressed to
Wells was: when did you see John Nail
LAST"
II saw him tonight" Wells replied with
out tremor.
Where did you see HING the lynchers
continued.
Near John Moores fence
"Say your prayers came the command.
Il am not praying man. Wells replied.
Then two men stepped forward, aud one
of them drew from his pocket cord about
ten feet long, and the two bound Wells Sc
curely. Two more advanced, and one of
them dropped a Moose over his head and
drew it up, placing the knot carefully,
hangman fashion, back OF one ear. The
moose being made secure about the prisoners
neck, the other end of the lariat was tossed
over a bough A dozen men pulling on it
drew Wells into the air. Ii was quickly
let down. This was repeated three times.
Each time the questions were asked about
John Nail He was also ordered to tell
all he knew about Harveys horses.
After the third hanging Wells said hoarse-
ly, but with unabated pluck:
Gentlemen, you may hang me if you
wish to. ! am in your hands. will lie
saying that ! did not steal the horse, and
don't know anything against John Nail"
Finding that Wells was III earnest the
vigilants unbound their prisoner, took him
back to the place where the Sparks brothers
were guarded, restored to the latter their
horses and weapons, and scattered in fifty
directions The three men then resumed
their journey. Scarcely word was spoken
bv any of the party on the subject OF the
hanging. Wells was kept under guard
until Yesterday, and at about o'clock in
the afternoon Constable Sparks reached this
city having him in charge. Here he turned
him over 10 Jailer Grim, and at this instant
Daniel Wells is in a steel cell in the McLen-
nan county JAIL sale from the vigilants OF
Childers creek.
Did they hurt your the World CORE
spondent inquired of Wells.
'Oh. not much, he replied.
'How did you feel hanging up"
''How could | feel wit my hands tied!"
How old are your
"Twenty-sixn
"Where were you raised!n
ION Cnilder's Creek, last night"
"They say you haLooed when you were
hangedm
''Hol!eted. You see had bile on my
neck and the rope hurt it. You would have
holered, too. if you'd been in my place
tried to pray, but somehow or other the
prayers of my babyhood had been stamped
out and would not come back when
wanted 'em to. and ] was in n fix. | thought
life. A fellow thinks faster under them
circumstances, and could only say low and
easy Ike: God save me-"
Wells neck is black and blue all around
and much swollen. There is a dangerous
look in his eve which bodes mischief to his
captors when he is released. Hf will appear
i'll court for trial as soon as his case is ready
to be heard. Nothing has been done by the
authorities with re gard to the hanging
LEE CLICK SAN CHONG'S FIRESIDE